From CBS News: “The Tribe did not ask for this dispute,” Councilman Charles Vaughn said in a statement. “But we have made a sincere effort through private negotiations with Mr. Jin, and he still refuses to make the most basic concessions and complete the work he promised. His participation has been unproductive and created countless delays. At this point, there are simply no other options.”

The Mr. Jin being referred to is the Las Vegas businessman who hatched the idea of the Skywalk and invested $30 million dollars of his own money to make it happen. Under the eminent domain seizure, the Tribe is prepared to pay Jin $11 million to exit the project.

That, according to the Jin camp, won’t fly because the buyout number represents about one-tenth of what the entrepreneur estimates is “fair market value for [his] $30 million investment.” Jin’s basing his return on his original agreement with the Tribe in which the two parties split revenues for 25 years.

Jin’s Attorney, Las Vegas-based Mark Tratos, said the Tribe’s latest action is a “desperate attempt to avoid the embarrassment of explaining how ticket revenues evaporated under its watch and to keep from paying [Mr. Jin] millions of dollars in management fees owed to him.”

Tratos added, “They want all decisions to be made by tribal judges that they hire, fire and pay, and have resisted all efforts to have an independent judge or arbiter fairly review the facts,” Tratos said. “Mr. Jin has been their partner for more than 20 years, and his counsel asserts the tribe has awarded themselves this draconian power to strip Mr. Jin’s company of its constitutional rights.”

Tough words. Last time such assertions were made, Mr. Jin had to offer up an apology. Specifically, he accused the Hualapai Nation of running a “lawless” and “archaic government” during an interview in the August 2011 issue of a Las Vegas magazine.

Mr. Jin asserts in court documents that the Tribe is passing the ordinance in order to duck explaining missing revenues from Skywalk ticket sales. The Tribe denies the accusation, saying that Mr. Jin’s company has failed to meet its contractual obligations and complete construction of a visitor center.

Grand Canyon Skywalk was open to the public in 2007. It’s a fantastic attraction that’s made up of 40-plus glass panels that cost $200,000 each. Each year, more than 300,000 people visit the Glass Walkway and experience the thrill of walking 70 feet past the edge of the West Rim of the canyon.

The Skywalk is the centerpiece of Grand Canyon West, a 100-mile swath of Hualapai Indian land that upon build out will feature restaurants, a museum, a theater, a hotel and a cable car ride to the bottom. Located just 120 miles east of Las Vegas, the West Rim is a major tourist destination that can be reached by car, bus, airplane and helicopter.

In my opinion, both parties have a good thing going. Let’s hope they get their differences worked out.

Article Citation: Las Vegas Sun – Ariz. tribe votes to take over Skywalk management

From Nelson, a winding, two-lane stretch of black top cuts through El Dorado Canyon’s rugged rock walls, along which are the remnants of mining tailings. Down the road a couple of miles lies the Techatticup Mine, which exhausted itself in 1945. Some 50 or so years later the mine and surrounding property were purchased by an enterprising couple who envisioned the area as a destination for tourism.

One of the restored main buildings in Nelson, NV

This pair removed debris and rubble from the mine’s main shaft. Then they added stabilizing ramps, access ladders, emergency phones and a string of electric lights. The restoration eventually got clearance from the State of Nevada and the couple began running guided, 1-hour tours that take adventurous souls 500 feet below the ground. Numerous historic buildings have also been restored, too, with the main hosting a museum that provides testament to El Dorado’s rambunctious past.

Looking down the main shaft of Techatticup Mine, El Dorado Canyon.

The canyon has also captured the imagination of Hollywood. Two movies have used Techatticup Mine as a set. The first was “Breakdown,” a 1997 suspense-thriller starring Kurt Russell and Kathleen Quinlan who play a distressed couple stranded in the desert. In 2001, the movie “3000 Miles to Graceland,” staring Mr. Russell, Kevin Costner and Courtney Cox, featured the mine and specifically the Lucky Strike gas station, which was “blown up.” Props from both movies are still on site.

Past the mine, the road wanders down to the legendary Colorado River. Here you’ll find outstanding views of Lake Mohave. It’s also the place where travelers launch their kayaks into the river for a day of paddling. There are a number of roads that fan out across the canyon, many leading to open mines and ventilation shafts. Note that much of these ventures lie on private land and that landowners are quick to prosecute those who trespass.

To self-drive to El Dorado Canyon, take I-95 south from Las Vegas to Boulder City. Take SR 165 south, then take SR 165 (also know as the Nelson Road) for 11 miles to Nelson. There’s also a Las Vegas helicopter tour that’s popular with travelers. It departs every day of the year and starts with a 4,000-foot descent to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, then heads to El Dorado for the mine tour. Upgrades include ATV trail rides, horseback riding, kayaking and more.

This article is part of a series about El Dorado Canyon. Read the other segments: Part 1 | Part 2

Water-powered stamp mill used to pound ore before shipment down river.

Lawlessness continued to thrive, most of it between Yankee and Confederate Civil War sympathizers. The affiliations split workers into warring camps that nearly brought mining production to a halt. Federal troops were ordered to bring peace to the area. But the respite was short-lived: The District, formerly part of Arizona, merged with Nevada, thus placing the nearest source of law enforcement 300 miles away in the town of Hiko. In 1867, a military outpost was assigned to El Dorado Canyon to protect steamboats and the local populace from raiding bands of Indians.

The most famous Indians that terrorized the riverside communities were Arvote, who was reported to have killed five settlers, and Queho, a Cocopah Indian, to whom authorities attributed 23 killings. It’s reported that Queho’s bloodthirst made him Nevada’s first serial killer and it’s #1 public enemy. Relentlessly pursued, he was never captured. In 1940, remains were found in an El Dorado Cave that were believed to be his.

The supposed remains of Queho, the renegade Indian of El Dorado Canyon

By the early 1900′s, Nelson’s Landing was one of the largest ports on the Colorado River, a fact that made it pivotal during prohibition and the construction of Hoover Dam.

Prohibition became law in January 1920. Arizona enforced it; Nevada didn’t. The result was moonshine liquor sold for a dollar a gallon in Nevada and for five dollars a gallon in Arizona. The price difference was not lost on bootleggers, who jumped at the opportunity to make a profit by pushing the booze across the river from Nelson’s Landing.

Hoover Dam, originally slated for Boulder Canyon, was to be constructed in nearby Black Canyon. The dam was conceived in response to the Colorado’s perennial flooding. It was a monumental project and required Herculean manpower and supplies, the majority of which made their way up the Colorado River via Nelson’s Landing.

Much of the manpower and supplies for Hoover Dam arrived from Nelson's Landing.

The dam, completed in 1936, changed the area forever, making it a prime tourism destination for fishing. Nelson’s Landing, for instance, morphed into a resort replete with boats, gas, food and cabins. Meantime, the Techatticup Mine continued operating until 1945. The closure resulted in the abandonment of Nelson. Relatedly, in the 1950′s, Davis Dam was built. This created Lake Mojave, which flooded the old stamp-mill site and what was left of the El Dorado mining camp.

Next: Nelson today, mine tours, Hollywood and directions how to get to the canyon.

This article is part of a series about El Dorado Canyon. Read the other segments: Part 1 | Part 3

Entering El Dorado Canyon, home to a handful of inhabitants.

The main draw, however, is the Techatticup Mine and the Wild West past that lingers over this intriguing destination. To get you in the proper frame of mind, I’m devoting three articles to the most famous “ghost town” in Southern Nevada. Part 1 will focus on the early history of El Dorado Canyon; part 2 will capture the modernization of the area; and part 3 will take us to current times. Go grab your six-shooter and let’s take a walk back in time.

The Spaniards

Indians were the first inhabitants of El Dorado Canyon. The ancient Puebloan Indians, the Paiutes and the Mojave tribes peacefully called the area home before the Spaniards uprooted them in 1775 as they quested for gold. The outsiders set up a settlement on the Colorado River, which they named El Dorado. They found silver but not enough to put down roots. Ironically, these master explorers would have struck the mother lode if they had pick-axed the canyon’s foothills.

The Colorado River lies across the way from the canyon.

Boom Town

El Dorado remained undisturbed until the 1850′s when enterprising prospectors began sluicing precious metals out of many streams that emptied into the Colorado River. These operations remained under the radar until 1958 when steamboats plied their way up and down the river from Yuma, Arizona, eventually bringing word that miners were pulling gold out of the ground.

Deserted except for the ghosts of those who passed.

In 1861, miners unearthed the Salvage Vein, an incredibly rich, vertically stacked band of gold that ran the length of one of the canyon’s ridges. Men, pick axes and dynamite in hand, cut into the vein and released it’s treasure. The Techatticup (Paiute for “hungry”) mine was born, its official owner being California senator George Hearst, father of William Randolph Hearst, the publishing magnate.

The Techatticup Mine’s bounty launched a string of other mines, including the Gettysburg, Solar, Duncan, Rand, Swabe, Golden Empire and Wall Street Minds. Combined, these operations made the Nelson District the richest and most famous mining district in Nevada.

More than mining, this El Dorado resident raised a nut farm.

Chaos Reigns

The resident population consisted of reckless Civil War deserters and straight-up outlaws. Gunfights settled disputes about gold, drink and women. Claim jumping was rampant. So was vigilante justice. The mine sparked ownership feuds and labor strikes. Murder happened daily. El Dorado was such a dangerous place that lawmen refused to enter it.

Today, lanterns light the way into the depths of the mine shaft.

Still the Techatticup Mine preserved, generating millions of dollars in silver, lead, gold and copper for many years to come. This lust for gold led to a honeycomb system of tunnels, one boring deeper into the earth than the next with candles being the only source of light. The miners didn’t know it then, but they were creating one of the most spectacular modern-day mining tours in the Western U.S.

Next: Part 2: Stamping mills, steamboats, the railway, an Indian serial killer and prohibition.

This article is part of a series about El Dorado Canyon. Read the other segments: Part 2 | Part 3

Enjoy this heavenly weather now because by the end of Nov. we are going to enter true winter, which won’t let go of its grip until late February. Low temps will lollygag in the teens until the afternoon when they spike into the 40′s. Down on the river, temps range about between the 40s and 50′s, with lows mingling between the 30′s and 40′s. During this time, be on the ready for significant snowfall, slick roads and icy trails. But it’s all worth it when fog fills the chasm, only to be burned off by lunch (or a bit later).

Desert Watchtower amid the canyon's first snow.

The Grand Canyon receives more than 5 million visitors a year, the bulk in summer. I’m a people person and don’t mind the crowds. Others do. If you’re in the later category, do the canyon during winter. You will quite literally have it all to yourself. You will especially appreciate the sparseness at such famous lookouts like Mather Point and Yaki Point. This is also the time to do a sunrise and sunset (Hopi Point can get insanely packed during summer sunset).

Snowstorm passes, powders Grand Canyon National Park

Prices come down during winter, especially at for rooms inside one of the historic lodges at Grand Canyon Village, the South Rim’s commercial hub. I say shoot the moon and go for a night or two at El Tovar. Stop by Xanterra for availability. Mule rides, the IMAX Theater, helicopter tours and airplane rides, too, are all going strong. Winter is a special time at the canyon. If you can find the time to get up here, you will be richly rewarded!

Have a Grand day!

K. Kravitz, Travel Reviewer

West Rim Helicopter Tours

	Grand Celebration (#1 Seller) 4,000-foot descent to bottom w/ Champagne! Price: $429 $304 (save $105 per person)
	Grand Celebration w/ Boat & Skywalk 3-in-1 tour w/ Colorado River boat & Skywalk passes! Price: $609 $469 (save $140 per person)
	Golden Eagle Air Tour Fly over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon. Price: $324 $249 (save $75 per person)
	Golden Eagle Skywalk Express Land on the Rim and walk the Glass Bridge! Price: $489 $394 (save $95 per person)
	All Helicopter Tours from Las Vegas Complete list of helicopter flights that depart from Vegas.

West Rim Bus Tours

	West Rim Bus Tour Hoover Dam photo stop, BBQ lunch & 2.5 hours at the canyon. Price: $167 $99 (Save $68)
	West Rim Bus w/ Skywalk All-access Skywalk passes plus BBQ lunch & rim time! Price: $207 $134 (Save $73)
	West Rim Bus, Helicopter & Boat Land at bottom for Colorado River boat ride. Price: $317 $234 (Save $83)

West Rim Airplane Tours

	West Rim Airplane Fly over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam & the canyon! Price: $199 $134 (Save $65)
	West Rim Airplane Skywalk Land on the rim and do the glass bridge. Price: $349 $244 (Save $105)
	West Rim Airplane, Helicopter & Boat Fly to rim. Take helicopter to bottom & boat the Colorado River Price: $459 $339 (Save $120)

Logistics

Whether you take an air or ground tour, you’re pretty much going to see the following:

• Lake Mead
• Hoover Dam
• Hoover Dam Bypass
• Colorado River
• Grand Wash Cliffs
• West Rim
• Guano Point
• Eagle Point
• Indian Cultural Village
• Grand Canyon Skywalk

As far as time’s concerned, helicopters get to the West Rim in 45 minutes, airplanes do it in 25 minutes and motor coaches drive it in 2.5 hours.

Wish List

If you can fit the Skywalk in, do it. Too many folks regret not bundling it into their package. The structure is truly phenomenal, letting you walk 70 feet past the edge while lifting you 4K feet above the ground. The West Rim is the only place where you can fly to the bottom in the entire National Park. Continue to “opt up” and take the pontoon boat ride on the Colorado River. These activities are definitely bucket-list material.

What’s Included

Each of the tours I’ve listed is all-inclusive and come with complimentary hotel pick up and drop off, grab-and-go breakfast and lunch. Deluxe helicopter packages come with a Champagne picnic. Expect to be in front of your hotel at most an hour prior to scheduled departure. Always confirm your tour 24 hours in advance.

Book It!

Not comfortable shopping the Internet? Start. I have to be as blunt as possible because I want to save you money. Tours on this page are all legitimate Internet specials. This means you have to book them online in order to get the deal. However, I understand that some find it more re-assuring if a person helps them. If that’s you, call me at 702-530-TOUR and I’ll RSVP it for you at no additional cost while still getting you those web rates.

More Grand Canyon West Rim Tours

Go here for complete information about the West Rim.

	West Rim Bus Tour Includes Hoover Dam photo stop, BBQ lunch & 2.5 hours at the canyon. Price: $167 $99
	West Rim Bus w/ Skywalk Comes with all-access Skywalk passes plus lunch & free shuttle service Price: $207 $134
	West Rim Bus, Helicopter & Boat Helicopter to bottom for Colorado River boat ride. Includes BBQ lunch & guide. Price: $317 $234

There’s something for everyone among those coach tours. I want to point out that you can add a Skywalk pass to the basic bus trip inside the Park. Lots of people think they want to give the glass bridge a miss but that changes once they see it up close.

The Route

The drive from Vegas to the West Rim is 120 miles. It takes a deluxe coach about 2.5 hours to get there. En route, you’ll see Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. Trips listed here all include a photo stop of the dam on the Arizona side. Onward, you’ll cut through Black Canyon and head through a Joshua Tree forest.

Self Drive: A Warning

Lots of folks want to rent a car and drive to Grand Canyon West. Think twice. First, the last 10 miles or so of road to the Park is pure, un-maintained dirt. Tire blowouts are not uncommon on this stretch. Traversing this requires an SUV, which is a premium rental vehicle. Next, there’s the fees, which include parking and park entrance. End of the day, you’ll wish you’d taken a bus tour.

Helicopters, Boats & the Skywalk

The West Rim is the only place in the canyon where you can ride a helicopter to the bottom. The only thing that can top that is to transfer to a steel pontoon boat and do a Colorado River float. Then there’s the Skywalk, a glass walkway that lets you walk 70 feet past the edge while being suspended 4,000 feet above the bottom! If you have the budget, definitely consider upgrading to these packages.

There’s the West Rim and then there’s the South Rim, which is most famous for its scenic natural beauty. Coach tours leave daily at 7 a.m. and cover all the major points of interest, before returning to Las Vegas in the evening. Click South Rim bus tour for more info.

Deal Time

Not comfortable shopping online? Get used to it. Especially if you want to save money. The canyon bus tours listed here are all online specials only. That means they must be reserved and paid for on the Internet. I’ve tested each offer and have not suffered any issues. The sites are 100% safe and ready for action. However, if you are still uncomfortable, call me direct at 702-530-TOUR and I’ll do it for you at NO additional cost as I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog.

Click for All Grand Canyon Bus Tours

Have a Grand day,

K. Kravitz, Travel Reviewer

West Rim Air Tours

	Visionary Air Tour Fly over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam & the canyon! Price: $199 $134
	Indian Adventure Explore Guano Point, Eagle Point and more! Price: $309 $214
	Indian Adventure w/ Skywalk Land on the rim and do the glass bridge. Price: $349 $249
	Grand Voyager Expedition Fly to rim. Take helicopter to bottom & boat the Colorado River Price: $459 $339
	Grand Canyon Deluxe 45 minute flight from Vegas to South Rim plus ground tour! Price: $329 $249
	All Grand Canyon Airplane Tours List of all flights from Vegas to the canyon.

Speed Freak

Airplanes are the fastest way to get to the canyon. From Vegas, it takes just 25 minutes, making these flights best suited for travelers who have limited time. This especially impacts landing tours. The other cool thing about planes is that they fly at a higher altitude than, say, helicopters. The result is bigger, more spectacular vistas.

Superior Aircraft

There’s a perception that these canyon air tours are conducted on a four-seater Cessna prop plane. Ain’t so, dear reader. These sightseeing planes are tricked out deHavillands that can take on 19 adult passengers. They sport over-sized viewing windows, lounge-style seats and wings mounted to the top of the body so your view is unobstructed.

RSVP

I strongly urge you to book your plane tour three days or more before you arrive in Vegas. This will guarantee that you get a seat on the day you want to fly. Go ahead and try to get a same-day flight, but chances are you’ll remain grounded, particularly if your group is two or more people. Solo travelers have the best chance, but even then there’s a chance of getting bumped.

Deals

Let me get this out there right now: It’s NOT cheaper to wait until the last minute and buy your tour in Las Vegas. Discounts like that only apply to watered-down Martinis and sub-par buffets. Decide to go for it in LV, expect to pay full retail. Tour operators know a mark-up when they see it. I personally can’t stand planning my trip while I’m on vacation. I say spare yourself the stress and book it from the comfort of your home.

Fly to Grand Canyon National Park? Not a problem. This South Rim airplane tour from Vegas is one that has everyone talking. Leaves daily and gets to the South Rim in 45 minutes flat. Includes a 2.5-hour ground. Gets you back in Vegas with plenty of time for dinner and show.

Get Airborne!

Grand Canyon airplane tours to the West Rim from Las Vegas are a flat-out bargain. And great prices aren’t just reserved for basic flights! Discount rates are offered even on the premium landing tour packages. Vegas is the perfect place to stage flight to the canyon. So grab your pals and fly over the best of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It’s going to be a heck of an experience.

See All Grand Canyon Airplane Tours

Have a Grand day,

K. Kravitz, Travel Reviewer

	South Rim Bus Tour Hoover Dam, lunch, professional driver-guide & 2.5+ hours at National Park! Price: $150 $84
	South Rim Bus & Helicopter Same ground tour as above plus 30 min. rim-to-rim helicopter tour. Price: $299 $229

West Rim Tours

	West Rim Bus Tour Includes Hoover Dam photo stop, BBQ lunch & 2.5 hours at the canyon. Price: $167 $99
	West Rim Bus w/ Skywalk Comes with all-access Skywalk passes plus lunch & free shuttle service Price: $207 $134
	West Rim Bus, Helicopter & Boat Helicopter to bottom for Colorado River boat ride. Includes BBQ lunch & guide. Price: $317 $234

Which Rim?

Bus tours go to either the South Rim or the West Rim. The South Rim, which is 270 miles from Las Vegas, is located inside the official National Park and is famous for spectacular scenery. The West Rim is 2.5 hours from Vegas and is located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, which is adjacent to the National park. It’s home to the Skywalk and is the only place where you can take a helicopter to the bottom.

Day Trip Extraordinaire

Coach tours are all-day affairs. Most leave around 7:30 a.m. This means you’ll have to be in front of your hotel around 6:30 a.m. for pick up. West Rim tours will have you back in Vegas by late afternoon, while the South Rim bus will have you back on the Strip around 9 p.m. I don’t recommend making early dinner or show reservations if you’re traveling to the South Rim.

People who want to visit the South Rim but don’t have the time required to take a coach tour from Vegas usually settle for this Grand Canyon airplane tour. It gets you to the National Park in 45 minutes and includes a 2.5-hour ground tour. Before you know it, you’re back in Vegas by end of day, refreshed and ready for a night on the town.

Road Trip!

So there you have it. The top Grand canyon bus tours from Vegas to the West and South Rim. They’re all great offers. It’s just a matter of determining which one’s right for you and your group. Now let the journey begin!

Click for All Grand Canyon Bus Tours

Have a Grand Day

K. Kravitz, Travel Reviewer

These coach trips are incredibly popular with travelers. The number one reason is value. Tours are all-inclusive and come with:

• Hotel pick up/drop off
• Grab-and-go breakfast
• Box lunch (vegetarian available)
• Professional guide
• Park fees
• Hoover Dam photo stop
• Up to 3 hours of in-park exploration

Right now, you can book this tour starting at just $79 per person! Compared to other south rim tours, the bus is a total bargain. And, unlike helicopter and airplane tours, large groups travel together.

	South Rim Bus Tour Las Vegas to National Park. Includes everything, plus Hoover Dam! Price: $150 $79 (save $71 per person)
	South Rim Bus & Helicopter Tour Up to 3 hrs. at National Park, plus terrific rim-to-rim helicopter ride! Price: $289 $205 (save $84 per person)

South Rim bus tours are an all-day adventure. The trip from Vegas to the National Park is 270 miles one-way. Because it takes 6 hours to reach this rim, all bus trips start around 7 a.m. Expect to be back on the Vegas Strip around 8:30p.

Kings of the Road

Tours are conducted aboard state-of-the-art deluxe coaches. I refer to them as “black top” luxury liners. I’m sure you’ve seen them. They’re those sleek double-decker machines with tinted windows that quite literally glide down the highway.

They come with A/C, on-board restroom, plasma TVs, lounge-style chairs, foot rests, personal table trays, individual window blinds and a ride that’s so quiet you’d swear you’re floating (credit that to the “noise-suppression” suspension).

The road trip kicks off from the Strip and heads east along Lake Mead before nosing south over the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. Trips include a brief photo-stop on the Arizona side of the Hoover Dam, which lets you see both the Dam and the engineering phenom that is the bypass.

The quickest way from Las Vegas to the South Rim of the National Park? Try this airplane tour. Flight time is just 45 minutes. Includes a 2.5-hour ground tour by motor coach. Includes lunch. Upgrade this package with a rim-to-rim helicopter tour. Back in Vegas by late afternoon.

Inside the National Park!

There are multiple rest stops and cigarette breaks as the bus makes it’s way to the National Park. Once there, folks who purchased the South Rim bus tour with helicopter ride will be dropped off at Grand Canyon Airport. The remainder will head into the Park for a guided tour.

No need to rush. Tours come with up to 3 hours of “park” time, which is plenty when it comes to enjoying Mather Point, Yaki Point, Yavapai Observation Station and Grand Canyon Village. Lunch is served during this stage. If you still have the munchies, hit the snack bar or the restaurant inside Bright Angel Lodge.

Back to Vegas!

The sunset ride back to Vegas is serene. It’s a great time to kick back and rest up for an evening on the Strip or to ruminate about the awesomeness that truly makes the Grand Canyon the best of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Click for All South Rim Bus Tours

Have a Grand Day,

K. Kravitz, Travel Reviewer